Automatic burner-controller.



J. W. BEARING.

AUTOMATIC BURNER CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1908.

QLLQQSD Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. VV. DEARING.

AUTOMATIC BURNER CONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1908.

Patexnil May. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

unirsi) sari" JOSEPH DEARING, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO W.l S.

BULLIS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. I

AUTOMATIC BURNER-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application led May 22, 1908. Serial No. 434,414.

To all whom. it may concern.'

Be it known that I, J osEPI-I W. DEARING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Automatic Burner-Controller, of which the following is la specification.

This invention relates vto automatic cutoffs for burners and the main object ofthe invention is to provide a device of the character described, which may be used with burners which burn gasolene or other fuel, which will automatically shut off the flow of fuel to the burner should the burner become extinguished.

- One of the primary objects of the invention is to shut off the flow of liquid so quickly after the flame has been extinguished that none of the liquid fuel will escape. The device embraces a thermostatically controlled spring operated 'mechanism for shutting the valve automatically the spring operated mechanism being held in check when the thermostat is hot and being released and allowed to close the valve upon the cooling and contraction of the thermostat.

Another object is to enable the valve to be i manually connected to 'regulateV the flame uithout disturbing the spring actuated closing mechanism, the latter always being ready to shut the valve if the flame goes out, irrespective of the exact open position of the valve.

Another object of the invention is to compel the operator to hold the valve open while the starting pan is being filled as otherwise it will automatically close so that no fuel will overflow from the starting pan and fill the stove, v hich heretofore has been the cause of many serious explosions, as the operator would frequently open the valve to fill the starting pan and v. ould then for some reason be called away from the stove and forget to return and shut the valve before the gasolene overflou ed and flooded the stove, and upon igniting thefuel in the starting pan the fuel nhich had escaped would take fire and explode.

In burners of the instantaneous type equipped vith my invention, the valve is opened wider than its normal burning position yto permit gasolene to flow to' the burner where it is ignited by the operator, and after burning the liquid gasolene a short time to heat the generator, the valve is partially 'closed to restrict the flovr of gasolene and permit only enough to be fed tothe burner tosupply the necessary gas for the flame. And a further object of my invention is t0 provide means for automatically effecting this partial closure of the valve when the generator has been sufficiently heated, this being effectuated by the spring operating device which commences to close the valve as soon as the valve has been opened, the thermostat being yet cold, a retarding device being employed to retard the closing movement of the valve so that it will remain wide open during the time requisite for the heating of the generator, and when the generator has been heated sufficiently and the thermostatic device is in locking position, the valve will have moved to the regular burning position, whereupon the valve remains open so long as the flame is alive and keeps the generator and thermostat hot, but upon the flame dying out or being extinguished the thermostat cools and unlocks the spring actuated mechanism which immediately closes the valve so that no gasolene can escape.

vertical cross section through `a gasolene stove equip ed with an ordinary type of burner in W lich a starting pan is employed, the burner being-equipped with the invention. Fi 2 is a vertical cross section through t e burner and the automatic controlling device. Fig. 3 is a section on line ac3-w3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line :t5-:1:5 Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.A 1 showing the device applied to an instantaneous or flash burner, the retarding device being employed. Fig. 7 .is an enlarged vertical section taken diametrically l through the retarding device and valve actuating mechanism. Fig. 8 isa section yon line S- Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section on line :r9-x9 Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 designates` the stove with to late 2. 3 is thel retort or generator to w ic gasolene is supplied through an inlet pipe 4. The generator 3 has an extension 5 and two sleeves 6 and 7, which are in line with each other` A vertical tube 8 extends through the extension 5 and is surmounted b a burner cap 9 the upper portion 10 of w ich is provided with radial orifices 11' and the lower drum 12 of which is provided with radial orifices 13.

The orices 11 and 13 permit the passage of gas which forms thelame. A gas pipe 14 communicates with the generator 3 and as shown in Fig. communicates with an off-set 5 vertical pipe 15 havingat its upper end a nozzle 16 whichis controlled by a needle valve 17 on the other end of the rod 18 which is threaded in the lower end of pipe 15. A

K starting an 19 is screwed to the lower end of the ,plpe 15. A horizontal valve rod 20 extends into the pipe 14 and carriesl a valve 21 adapted to open or close communication between pipe 14 and nozzle 16. A gasket 22 is arranged on the end of pipe' 41 around the A rod 20 to revent leakage. Extending looselyT throug the sleeves 6 and 7 is a thermostat comprising a brass tubey 23, one end -of which is screwed to a stationary lug 24. Within the tube 23 is a steel rod 25, the rear end of which as shown in Fig. 2 abuts the end Wall 26' of the tube 23, while its other end projects from the open end of the tube 23. 27 is a lock nut to secure the tube 23 in position. It is obvious that when the burner is` in operation the tube 23 bein of brass, will expand in len th, slipping slig tly in sleeves 6 and 7, whic sleeves in addition to acting as guides for the tube form shields for the 4tube to protect the same so that the flames from the burner do not directly strike the tube and destroy it. If the iiame becomes y.extinguished the tube will contact and push the rod 25 to the left. In order to accelerate the cooling action ofthe tube ,and its con- 35 tained rod/25, the tube is provided with several perforations 28 which permit air to circulate inside the tube and around the rod 25. At the front end of the stove is'a -dependin bracket 29 yto which the lug 24 is secure The bracket 29 is recessed and a lever 30 therein is pivoted at 31 below the rod 25, which rod,contacts with lever 30 above the pivot 31 as shown in Fi 2. lower end-of lever 30 engages a ell crank lever 32 also pivoted in the bracket 29, and

the other arm of the bell crank lever 32 engages a lug 33 on a sliding bolt 34 which has an elongated eye 35 through which valve rod 20 passes and a spring 36 is arranged '50 above the lug 33 to depress the bolt 34 when ermitted by the tiltmgof the bell crank ever 32. vThe lower end of bolt 34 rides against and is supported bya roller 37. Revolubly mounted on rod 20 is a spring n 5v5 drum 38, the shell of which is provided with several notches 39 either of which is adapted to receive and be engaged by the bolt 34 when the latter is depressed. Within the spring drum 38 is a disk 40 attached by screws a to the bracket 29, and attached to disk 40 is the inner end of a spiral spring 41, the outer end of spring 41 belng attached to a lug 42 on the spring drum 38. The spring drum 38 has an abutment 43 which is adapted to engage a pin 44 on the rod 20.

vburner is ready for use.

-time the generator 3 The v It is apparent that when the tube 23 is cold` the spring 36 cannot depress bolt 34 because bell crank lever 32 cannot swing down being held by lever 30 which in turn is prevented vfrom swinging its upper end to the right by reason of the rod 25 being held to the leftby the contracted tube 23. At such timesA through the medium oi' lugs 43 vand 44, there-` by placing the spring 41 under an increased tension tendingto close the valve, and thus -f it is necessary for the person using the stove to'hold the valve open to'permit the gasolene to lill the starting pan as the spring drum is as yet unlocked, the thermostat being cld. The valvel being thus held open gasolene Hows through pipe 4, generator 3 and' ipe 14 to pipe 15 and is projected upwardly y nozzle 16 and falls down into the startin pan 19. As soon as the starting. an is filled ille valve 20 shouldV be closed, either by the operator turning it clockwise, or by releasin it to allowit to close automatically under t iespring tension. yThen the gasolene in the starting pan is ignited and the flame therefrom heats the generator in a few moments so that the of thegenerator it is obvious that the tube 23 will also becomeJ heated and will expand, and

the parts are so pro ortioned that b the as become suiciently hot the tube 23 will have expanded and per- ',mitted rod 25 to be moved tothe right which movement of rod '25 is accomplished by the expansion of spring 36 operating bolt 3 4 During this heating downward to look spring drum 38, and as bolt 34 is moved downward it operates lever 32 which in turn operates lever 30 and the latter then pushes rod 25 to the right. The spring drum 38 being now locked by the bolt 34, and the generator 3 being hot, the burner is ready for use, and upon opening valve v21 'gas from the generator 3 is permitted to flow through pipe 14 to pipe 15 and out through nozzle 16 where it passes up through tube Sand discharges laterally through orices 1 1 and 13 where the flame is ignited. During this openingrnovement of valve 21 as the rod 20 turns its pin 44 strikes abutment 43 and turns the spring drum 38, thus winding up spring 41 as the disk 40 to which it is attached is stationary and as the spring drum thus turns it clicks over the end oi' bolt 34, the latter being beveled to per- .mit of this action. One wall of each notch 39 is also beveled to ermit of this opening movement. When t 1e valve 21 has been opened the desired degree it is obvious that the abutment 43 will stand in contact-with pin 44 and that the rod 2() may be tu rned clockwise to y vented.

arabes out, the tube 23 will at once commence to i cool, and as it cools it will contractin length and push rod 25 gradually to the left. VDuring this cooling of the thermostat, the gen-y erator being still hot, will continue. to form gas, which gas will'escape from the nozzle 16, but thel thermostat very quickly cools and pushes rod 25 to a point where through the medium of levers 30 and 32 it lifts the boltv34 from its notch 39 and releases 'spring drum 38,- whereupon spring 41 turns the spring drum clockwise and its abutment 43 acting on pin 44rotates rod 20v and instantly closes valve 21 thus preventin further escape of gas. The cooling of the t ermostst and closing action of the valve takes pl ace while gas is still escaping. ln other words, the valve is closed before the generator becomes so cool that the gasolene is not formed into gas and thus no gasolene in liquid form escapes from the nozzle. lf the operator close's or partially closes the valve, the automaticdevice immediately operates upon the cooling of the thermostat. vIn this manner the valve is automatically closed and accidents are pre- 'lhe burner may be re-lighted again in the manner previousl y described.

Figsl 6 to 9 inclusive show a modified form in which a retariling device is employed which is advantageous when the device is used with instantaneous or llash burners. or automatic water heaters. burner the construction is very similar exce t that the gasolene instead of irst being ligli'ted in the starting pan is li hted at the burner and the valvemust be hel open wider than its normal position in order to ermit gasolene to esca e in suflitient quantities to burn in liquid orm. The retarding device isl arranged to retard the closing movement of the valve while the thermostat is cool so that by the time the thermostat has become heated and locked the s iring drum, the valve will have become closed to the burning point or oint at which it permits the escape of gas or the burner in the desired quantity. In this form the bracket 29u is longer and permits ol' using a single lever 30a which is pivot-- ln this forni of.

which has a tendency to force stem 52 to the left and tilt the upper end of lever 30a to the right, which tilting movement is restricted vby rod 25.v The spring drum 38'5L has notches 39awlnch are adapted to be engaged by bolt 52. Within the drum 38a is the spiral spring 41u the outer end of which engages the drum and the inner end of' which engages the stationery disk 40a. Rod 2()a has a pin 43 which co-actswith abutment 24a on drum 38a.

The retarding device consists of an internal gear 56 formed in the drum 38a as clearly shown in Fig. 9, which meshes with a pinion 57 -mounted to rotate ony a stud 58 which projects from disk 40a. -Pivoted tov a stud 59 lis an escapement comprising a hat disk sha ed weight 60 which encircles the hub of isk 4()a and which is adapted to swing relatively thereto by reason of its large hole, there being parallel pallets 61 above pivot 59 which co-act with pinion 57 to limit the rotation thereof to a speed permitted by the pendulum movement of the wei ht 60. The operation of this is similar to tliat previously described with the eXce tion that-the valve does not have to be he d open as the operator has only to open the valve far enough to let the gasolene escape in liquid form, then ignite the gasolene whereu on the spring 41EL will commence to closel t e valve which closing action will be slow by reason of the described escapement, and

by the time the valve has been sufliciently closed the thermostat will have become heated to permit spring 55 to expand and throw bolt 52 into engagement with the valve, valve closing mechanism adapted.

Whenreleased to close the valve, a thermostat, means operated by the thermostat in heating to check, and in cooling, to release` the valve closing mechanisms', said valve` -being movable independently of said valve closing mechanism permitting adjustment of the valvewithout disturbing the valve closing mechanism.

thermostat comprising an expansible tube fixed at one end, and a rod having a less ratio of expansion arranged in said tube, one

end of said rod being operated by the free end of said tube, a burner through which said tube extends, and sleeves on the burner surrounding the tube 'to shield it from the flame.

3. In combination, with an oil burner and its valve, spring operated mechanism for closing said valve, a thermostat controlled by the burner and mechanism operated by said thermostat for normally locking said spring mechanism and permitting adjustment of the valve independently of the spring mechanism, whilethe flame is alive, and for unlocking the 'spring mechanism and .permitting itA to close the valve'when the thermostat cools upon the flame being eX- tin'guished.

4. In combination with a burner and its valve, springo erated mechanism for closing thermostat, means controlle -for locking or unlocking said-,spring mechansaid valve, a. te escopic thermostat extending through the burner, a lever o erated by the by said lever ism, and means permitting adjustment of saidv valve whenv said spring mechanism is locked. l

5. In combination with a burner and its valve, a spring drum revoluble on. the valve I stem, a stationary disk adjacent said drum, a

spring within the drum having one 'end attached to the drum, and its other end attached .to the disk, means intermediate the drum and valve for rotatin the latter upon rotation of the drum, an thermostaticallyconspring drum -from rotation.

trolled means for-detachably locking the 6. In combination with a valve, a springdrum revoluble on the valve stem, astationary disk adjacentsaiddrum, a

spring within the drum having one end attached to the drum, and its other end attached to the disk, means intermediate the drum and valve stem for rotating the latter upon rotation ofthe drum, said spring drum having notches, asprin pressed slidin bolt adapted to engageanotc of thespring rum, and thermostatically controlled means for withdrawingsaid bolt from engagement With the spring drum to permit the latter to rotate the valveand close it.

7. In combination with aburner and its valve, a spring drum revoluble on the valve stem, a stationary disk adjacent said drum, a spring Within the drum having one end attached to the drum, and its other end attached tothe disk, means intermediate the drum mostat passing through the burner for operating the second lever. l

8.' In combination 'with a burner and its valve, aspringdrum vrevoluble on the valve stem, a stationary disk adjacent said drum, ai

spring within the drum having one end attached to the drum, and its other end attached tothe disk, means intermediate the drum and valve stem for rotating the latter upon burner and its rotation of the drum, said spring drum havling notches, a spring pressed sliding bolt adapted to engage a notch and having a lug,

a bell crank lever engaging said lug, a lever controlling the bell crank lever, a telescope tube extending through the burner and iixed at one end ad]acent the second lever, and a rod inside said tube withdts end resting 'against the latter lever.

9; In combination with a burner and its valve, spring o erated mechanism for closing said valve, sai valve being capable of movement-independently of the spring mechanism, athermostat controlled by the burner and mechanism operated by said thermostat for normally locking said spring lmechanism while the flame is alive, and for unlocking the spring mechanism and permitting it to close t e valve when the thermostat cools upon 4the ilame-,bein extinguished, and means for retarding the c osingvmovement of said valve.

` 10. In combination with a burner and its valve, spring operated mechanism for closing ,Said va ve, a thermostat controlled by the burner and mechanism operated by said thermostat for normally locking said spring meehanism while the iiame is alive, and for unlocking the spring mechanismand permit- .ting it to close the valve when the thermostat cools upon the flame being extinguished, means for retarding the closing movement of said valve, said retarding mechanism-comprising an internal gear on the s ring drum, a pinion meshing therewith, an an escape- 'ment controlling said pinion.

. 11. In combination with a burner and its valve, s ring operated mechanism for closing said va ve, a thermostat controlled by the burner and mechanism operated by said thermostat for normally lockin said spring mechanism while the flame is a ive, and for unlocking the spring mechanism and permitting it to close the" valve when the t ermostat cools upon the flame being lextinguished,. means for retarding the closing movement of said valve, said retarding mechanism comprising an internal gear on the spring drum, a pinion meshing therewith, an escapement controlling said pinion, said escapement comprising a pivoted disk with alarge perforation which receives the valve stem and permitsA it to swing relatively to said stem, and pallets on the pivoted disk lwhich engage said pinion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 15th -day of May 1908.

In lpresence of- GEORGE T. HACKLEY,

FRANK L. A. GRAHAM.

JOSEPH W. DEAR1NG. 

